Online video poker, where strategy actually pays
Video poker is often one of the best games to play in a casino. If you play a 9/6 Jacks or Better machine with the maximum number of coins and use the right strategy, you can get back 99.54% of your money over time. This is similar to blackjack and better than most other games. However, many people lose more because they choose machines with worse payouts, do not bet enough coins, or play by guessing instead of using a strategy chart. Each of these mistakes can cost you money. Below, we explain how the game works, which versions are best, how to read payouts quickly, and the four main mistakes to avoid.
You can find tools to compare payouts and a guide to hand rankings on our main games page.
Video poker at a glance
Here are some important facts to know before you start playing.
House edge
0.5% on 9/6
Up to 5% on short-pay paytables
Variants
4 common
Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, Joker, Bonus Poker
Strategy
Fully deterministic
Charts exist for every variant
Best paytable
9/6
9-coin full house, 6-coin flush; check the felt
Origin
1976
Si Redd / IGT "Draw Poker" cabinet
Top providers
NetEnt, Microgaming
RNG only - no live video poker exists
Live dealer
No
Skill ROI requires demo drilling or fast clicks
Best fit
Quiet solo sessions
Math-driven play; no social layer
A brief history of video poker
The first video poker machine was made in 1976 by Si Redd. His company was called SIRCOMA, which later became IGT. The machine was called "Draw Poker." It showed five cards on a screen and had buttons to hold or discard cards. The prizes were based on standard poker hands. By the early 1980s, these machines were very popular. By 1989, there were more video poker machines in Nevada than slot machines.
People liked the game because of the math. Unlike slots, you can see the payouts on the machine. This means a player can see exactly what each hand pays and work out the long-term return. Players can also use a strategy to change the result. The 9/6 Jacks or Better version released in the 1980s is still the standard today.
Video poker moved online in the late 1990s. Companies like Microgaming and IGT brought their popular machines to the internet. The games work the same way as they do in physical casinos. They use the same computer programs to deal cards and the payouts are the same. One big difference is that you can play much faster online. A focused player can play 600 to 800 hands per hour, while someone at a physical machine might only play 400.
How video poker works
The game is based on five-card draw poker. Here is how a round works:
- Choose denomination and coins. You can usually bet from 1c to $5 per coin. You can bet between 1 and 5 coins. It is very important to bet 5 coins.
- Deal. The computer shuffles a virtual deck of 52 cards (53 if there is a joker) and deals you 5 cards face up.
- Hold / discard. You pick which cards to keep. The cards you do not keep are replaced by new ones from the deck.
- Final hand. Your final hand is checked against the payout table. Your prize depends on the rank of your hand, like a pair of jacks or a royal flush. If your hand is lower than a pair of jacks, you win nothing.
That is all there is to the game. The main choice is which cards to keep. Because of this, video poker is a game of skill. There is a mathematically correct way to play every hand. The advertised return assumes you always make the right choice. If you make mistakes, you will not win as much money in the long run.
The variants worth knowing
There are many versions of video poker, but most are based on six main games. Each has its own strategy and return rate. The payout table is more important than the version of the game. For example, a Jacks or Better game can return 99.54% on one machine but only 95% on another.
Jacks or Better
9/6 paytable · 99.54% RTP at optimal play
This is the most common version. You need at least a pair of jacks to win. It is the easiest version to learn and has steady payouts. If you want one game to focus on, choose this one with a 9/6 payout table.
Bonus Poker
8/5 typical · 99.17% at optimal play
This is like Jacks or Better but pays more for four-of-a-kind hands. The strategy is very similar to Jacks or Better with a few small changes.
Double Bonus Poker
10/7 typical · 100.17% at optimal play
This version pays even more for four-of-a-kind hands, but less for lower hands like two pair. While you can actually make a profit on some machines, the strategy is much harder to learn and you can lose money more quickly.
Deuces Wild
Full pay · 100.76% at optimal play
In this game, all 2s are wild cards and can represent any card. You need at least three-of-a-kind to win. This is one of the few games where the player has an advantage if the payouts are good. However, many online versions have lower payouts.
Joker Poker
53-card deck · 100.65% at optimal play (full pay)
This uses a standard deck plus one joker as a wild card. You usually need at least a pair of kings to win. The joker helps you get rare hands like a wild royal flush. The strategy is moderately difficult.
All American
8/8/8 typical · 100.72% at optimal play (full pay)
This version pays more for flushes and straights but less for two pair and full houses. Because of this, you have to change your strategy to aim for those higher-paying hands more often.
Reading a paytable: the 9/6 vs 8/5 vs 6/5 hierarchy
Two machines might have the same name but very different payouts. The numbers like 9/6 refer to how many coins you win for a full house and a flush. Most casinos have different versions. The ones with the worst payouts are often near the entrance. Here is how to tell them apart.
| Paytable | Full house | Flush | RTP (optimal, max coins) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9/6 (full pay) | 9 | 6 | 99.54% |
| 8/6 | 8 | 6 | 98.39% |
| 8/5 | 8 | 5 | 97.30% |
| 7/5 | 7 | 5 | 96.15% |
| 6/5 (short pay) | 6 | 5 | 94.99% |
Pro tip: the paytable is on the screen
Every machine shows its payouts on the screen. Look for the full house and flush lines. You want to see 9 and 6. If you see 8 and 5 or lower, look for a different machine. A 9/6 machine returns much more than a 6/5 machine. If you bet $1.25 for 100 hands, you could lose over $5 more just by picking the wrong machine.
Basic strategy: a priority list, not intuition
For the 9/6 Jacks or Better version, you can follow a simple list to know what to do. Look at your cards and find the highest hand on this list that you have. Keep those cards and change the rest. Here is the basic list:
- Royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, or straight - hold all.
- Four cards to a royal flush - hold the four, discard the fifth.
- Three of a kind - hold the three, draw two.
- Four cards to a straight flush - hold the four.
- Two pair - hold both pairs, discard the fifth.
- High pair (jacks or better) - hold the pair, draw three.
- Three cards to a royal flush - hold the three, draw two.
- Four cards to a flush - hold the four, draw one.
- Low pair (twos through tens) - hold the pair, draw three.
- Four cards to an open straight - hold the four, draw one.
- Two suited high cards (J, Q, K, or A) - hold both, draw three.
- Three cards to a straight flush - hold the three, draw two.
- Two unsuited high cards - hold both, draw three.
- One high card - hold the high card, draw four.
- Nothing - discard all five.
Learning this list helps you win more. While the full strategy is more complex, this list covers the most common situations and will help you get close to the best possible return.
Many players make the mistake of keeping high cards and throwing away a low pair. The math shows it is actually better to keep the low pair because you already have a hand that could improve. High cards are not as likely to win on their own.
Why video poker is the best long-run game in the casino
Video poker is one of the best games to play if you want good odds. A 9/6 Jacks or Better game has about the same return as blackjack. Some other versions can even give the player a small advantage, though they are harder to find online.
| Game | Optimal RTP |
|---|---|
| Full-pay Deuces Wild | 100.76% |
| Full-pay Joker Poker | 100.65% |
| 9/6 Jacks or Better | 99.54% |
| Blackjack (basic strategy, 3:2) | 99.5% |
| Baccarat (banker bet) | 98.94% |
| European roulette | 97.30% |
| Modern slots (mid-range) | 95-97% |
| American roulette | 94.74% |
To get the best return, you must do three things: find a machine with a 9/6 payout table, bet the maximum number of coins, and use a strategy chart. If you do not do these things, you will lose your money much faster. The high return is only possible if you play carefully.
The four pitfalls that erase the video poker edge
Many players lose more than they should because of four common mistakes. Each mistake can lower your return by 0.5% or more. Together, they can make a good game much worse.
1. Sitting at a 6/5 or 7/5 machine without checking
This is a very common mistake. A 6/5 machine returns much less than a 9/6 machine. Always check the payouts for a full house and a flush on the screen before you start. If it is not 9/6, it is better to find another machine.
2. Playing fewer than max coins
Betting five coins gives you a large bonus if you get a royal flush. This bonus makes the game much better for the player. It is better to play for lower stakes with five coins than for higher stakes with only one or two coins.
3. Playing from intuition instead of the strategy chart
Following your gut feeling is often the wrong choice. Some correct moves might seem strange at first, but the math proves they are better. The basic strategy for Jacks or Better is easy to learn and will help you win more over time.
4. Chasing the progressive jackpot version
These machines take a small part of every bet to build a jackpot. This usually means the regular payouts are lower. Unless the jackpot is very large, it is usually better to play on a standard 9/6 machine.
Responsible play, applied to video poker
Video poker is played very quickly. You can easily play 600 to 800 hands in one hour. Even though the house has a very small advantage, the large number of hands means you are betting a lot of money in a short time. You should keep track of how much you are betting per hour.
A good way to stay in control is to decide how many hands you will play before you start. For example, you could decide to play 1,500 hands and then stop, no matter if you are winning or losing. This is better than playing for a set amount of time or waiting for a big win that might not happen.
Because the game involves skill, players sometimes play for too long, thinking they can win by using their strategy. This is dangerous if the machine has poor payouts. Always check the payout table before you sit down. It is also a good idea to use tools like deposit limits on the casino website. Our page on responsible gambling has more information on how to stay safe.
Common questions about video poker
Here are the most common questions we get about payouts, different versions of the game, and whether video poker is worth playing.
What's the difference between 9/6 and 8/5 Jacks or Better?
These numbers show how much you win for a full house and a flush. 9/6 means you win 9 coins for a full house and 6 for a flush. 8/5 pays 8 and 5. A 9/6 machine returns about 99.54% of your money, while an 8/5 machine returns about 97.30%. The worst machines pay 6/5 and return about 95%. Always check the screen before you play.
Is video poker really the best RTP game in the casino?
If you find a 9/6 machine, bet five coins, and use a strategy chart, video poker has one of the best returns in the casino. The house edge is very small, which is better than most other games. However, most people do not follow these rules, so they lose more money than they should. For a casual player, the return is usually lower, around 96% or 97%.
What does "Jacks or Better" mean?
This is the lowest hand that will win you a prize. In this version, you need a pair of jacks or something better, like a pair of queens or three-of-a-kind. Anything lower than a pair of jacks will not pay anything. Some other versions have different minimum hands, like a pair of tens.
Should I play Deuces Wild or Jacks or Better?
Both games are good if the payouts are right. Some versions of Deuces Wild can even give the player a slight advantage, but these are very hard to find online. 9/6 Jacks or Better is more common and still offers a very high return. If you can find the best version of Deuces Wild, play that; otherwise, stick to 9/6 Jacks or Better.
How important is playing max coins?
It is very important. Betting five coins gives you a much bigger prize for a royal flush. This difference can change your return by more than 1.5%. If you cannot afford to bet five coins on a machine, it is better to move to a cheaper machine where you can bet five coins.
Can I count cards or track patterns in video poker?
No. Every hand uses a new deck of cards. The game does not remember what happened in previous hands. The best strategy is always the same and only depends on the cards you are currently holding. You can use a chart to help you make the best choice every time.
Are video poker machines rigged online?
On websites that have a proper license, the games are fair. They use computer programs that are regularly tested by independent companies to make sure the results are random. You can trust the payouts shown on the screen at these sites. We only recommend websites that are fully licensed and safe to use.
What's the basic strategy for video poker?
The basic strategy is a list that tells you which cards to keep. For Jacks or Better, you usually keep any hand that already wins, like a pair of jacks. If you do not have a winning hand, you look for combinations that could become a good hand, like four cards of the same suit. You can find the full list online and learn it in a few hours.
Are progressive video poker games worth playing?
Sometimes they are, but usually they are not. These games take a small amount from every bet to pay for the jackpot, so the regular prizes are lower. Unless the jackpot is extremely high, you will usually get a better return on a standard 9/6 machine. Most players are better off avoiding them.
Why isn't video poker more popular?
There are a few reasons. Some people find it too much work to learn a strategy. Also, casinos often hide the best machines or use machines with lower payouts. Finally, the game can feel different from slots because the wins happen in a different way. Casinos often prefer slots because they are easier for players and make more money for the house.
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